The assignments in class lead up to a quiz, normally
given on Thursdays. They are usually a mix of theory and history about
international relations. The theory sections are usually found in links
on the Internet. The history is usually in Stoessinger's and Kegley and
Raymond's texts. Hughes is a mix of both but with a view towards
possible, alternative futures.

Answers you give to the questions below contain the information
you will need to know for the quizzes and the exams. You might use them
as a study guide to read proactively. Before you go to each assigned
reading, first read the question then quickly look for the answer(s) as
you read the relevant assignment.

The historical material in Kegley and Raymond, Stoessinger,
Hughes, and various other assignments should be read for understanding.
The quizzes will usually ask you about this material in a True/False,
multiple choice, matching or fill-in format, so you can rely on your
recall memory.

Quiz 1 - Geopolitical roots

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel"

What has shaped modern history?

What are the roots of political power?

What has separated the "haves" from the "have nots," the roots of inequalities?
(Recall Yali's inquiry, "Why you white men have so much cargo and we New Guineans have so little?")

What beliefs did "Western colonials" have about themselves and those they conquered?

From lectures:

What is a "system," a social system, a political system?

What is the focus of Easton's model of politics? What are the inputs and outputs? What responds to the output to change the inputs?

Maslow's "hierarchy" of basic needs has how many "steps?"
What are they? What does the hierarchy tell you about your goals and
values? politics in general?

What is the primary cause of war, according to Stoessinger?

Quiz 2

How
was it that 148 Spanish conquistidors could overwhelm 80,000 Incan
soldiers who had created a nation that spanned 2,500 miles (modern Peru
and most of Chile)?

Which civilization has more productive crops and animals (Inca or Spanish)? Why did that matter?

What
so traumatized the Incas that they fled? What two particular things
gave them such a tactical advantage that the Incas simply had no
chance?

What was Pizzaro's "secret weapon" (unknown even to himself)?

What did Diamond conclude about whether explanations give you power? For instance, do they give you the power to change? Can you use that knowledge to make different things happen in the future? One of the texts you'll be reading shortly (Barry Hughes') asks a similar question concerning "leverage."

Is Diamond pessimistic about the ability of malaria infested societies to recover anytime soon? What countries does he point to as examples of success or failure?

I'll place more questions here after I know what they are from class discussions.